Man accused of murder ordered to undergo evaluation

JANESVILLE  A man accused of murdering his stepson’s former girlfriend and hiding her body in Rock County will undergo a medical exam to see if he is fit to stand trial.

Keith Abbott, 47, Palmyra, formerly of Sturtevant, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon and hiding a corpse.

Abbott will be transported to the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison when a space opens at the facility, Racine County District Attorney Michael Nieskes said.

Abbott was to be tried in Racine County for the murder of Kristin S. Miller, 33, of Racine. Miller was found Jan. 31, in a ravine in Avon Township, a few miles south of Highway 11 in southwestern Rock County.

The case was moved to Rock County when DNA evidence could not confirm Miller was killed in Racine County.

Nieskes said a prior medical evaluation revealed Abbott might have a degenerative neurological disease. The defense agreed Abbott should be evaluated, Nieskes said.

The court waved the normal 30-day deadline for a competency test to ensure time for a neurologist to evaluate Abbott.

“One problem is getting a bed in a state mental facility, and the nature of the examination may take longer than a normal evaluation,” Nieskes said.